The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Well I have decided to leave my beloved B model in the hands of a professional aircraft paint shop. Gone will be the polished aluminum look and in with a fully painted aircraft. It was too much work to keep up for a floatplane that's never seen the inside of a hangar. I do want to keep the original look as much as possible so the stripes will keep the same pattern on a white base. I also want to pay attention to detail so I was wondering where cessna originally put the registration markings. On the tail or the side of the fuselage? Also, the C170 decals. Where do they go? I know the trim was insignia red but were both stripes insignia red or was one of them a different color? Any insight, suggestions, or comments are welcome. Thanks.

Alex
'53B

The registration was on the bottom of the left wing, the top of the right wing, and 2" on the tail. All were in the same color.

the paint scheme on the float plane is very close to the factory 1956 scheme [ the tail design is slightly different]

I believe it is the original '53 scheme. It was just painted over with the blue. The original red is still visible underneath in some spots. I just don't know where the decals went and which way they go. I see on George's pic that the bird faces backwards. I have seen them both ways. Also I have a choice between Jet glo and alumigrip paint.

Tracy is correct that is very close to a '56 paint scheme. George's is a good reference for an original '53 paint scheme.

Depending on how original you want to get, you can order the blueprints from Cessna for most of the 170 paint schemes.

Tail numbers are 2 inch on the tail and 20 inch military block on the wings positioned as George pointed out..

As far as the bird facing backwards,Cessna used the same stencil for left and right side of the fin.On the right side it faces forward.

Here's another view of the '53 scheme, with the previous owner (and the guy who did the actual restoration) Bill Goebel, flying it.

The Association has drawing 0500013 the main drawing giving dimensions and placement for the 53 paint scheme. Looking at it I see you will also need 0500018-1 for the 170 stencil on the door, 0500018-2 for the 170 Cessna with bird stencil for the tail. It also says to refer to 0400115 for location and size of the registration numbers.

We also have drawing 0500015 which is the main drawing for the 54 paint scheme. Other drawings mentioned on this drawing you will need are 0500016 for the One Seventy on the side of the cowl. 0300114 for the Cessna name stencil for the dorsal area as well as the bird stencil on the vertical stabilizer. 0400115 is used fro the placement ans size of the registration numbers.

If you are doing a B model serial 26996 or later we have drawing 0500025. This drawing shows the overall scheme but with no dimensions. It specifically shows the placement of the "R" (Registered trade mark) in black on the side of the aircraft. (Jim W., I'll be checking yours closely next time I judge it. )
This drawing mentions others you will need for this serial number and after and they are 0500027-1 for the Cessna side lettering, 0500026-1 and 0500026 for some kind of insignia on the side of the fuselage tail cone and lat but not least 0500030 for the "R" (registered trade mark) that Jim Wildharber better have.

No worry Bruce. My plane is serial no. 26958 and the registration numbers size and locations are correct. This was confirmed by several (not to mention their names) members with the initials of T.B., R.M., and C.B. The pictures on file with the association also helped. . Thanks S. G.

However, relative to your planes history, I don't think anyone can ever reconstruct which year model paint scheme and registration locations are correct Once a rat plane always a rat plane.......

jlwild wrote: This was confirmed by several (not to mention their names) members with the initials of T.B., R.M., and C.B. The pictures on file with the association also helped. .

Well. If it were only T.B and R.M. I might get out the ruler but since C.B is involved I'll go after other easier targets. I saw a Red polished '53 at Branson. I could go over instead. It was mostly original, probably for all the right reasons you know. The owner even had that 10 year no polish patina going to distract the critical eye. Of course it is obviously nothing like the pictures of the Blue polished bird I've seen pictures of that's suppose to be somewhere in Louisiana. Now if that Blue one ever gets to a convention the judges pick for number one is gone to be pretty easy.